North Carolina
Virginia
Tar Heels Defeat Virginia In ACC Softball Tournament, 6-0
May 10, 2002 | Softball
May 10, 2002
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - North Carolina got three hits and three RBI from All-ACC player Quinn Porter while pitcher Shannon Walsh out-dueled Virginia ace Kristen Dennis in a 6-0 victory in game one of the 2002 Atlantic Coast Conference Softball Championship at the Seminole Softball Complex.
The Tar Heels (32-28) advance to play No. 1 seed Florida State (48-15) later this evening at 7 p.m. Virginia will play the loser of game two between Maryland and Georgia Tech tomorrow at 11 a.m.
Walsh entered the game losing her last four decisions, but was effective both at the plate and in the circle. She added two RBI in the game en route to her third shutout of the season. Walsh (13-14) fanned seven while allowing four hits and five walks. The Cavaliers couldn't take advantage when they had runners in scoring position however as they left nine runners on base.
"I think it was one of the best games I pitched this year," said Walsh. "We wanted to leave everything out on the field to say 'that's the best we've got,' that's how I felt on the mound."
North Carolina roughed up Dennis, the 2002 ACC Player of the Year, in the first inning. Following an error and a bunt single, Porter dropped a 2-0 pitch into left center driving in two runs to give North Carolina the early lead. A RBI double by Jessica Young and a sacrifice fly by Walsh gave North Carolina a 4-0 advantage. It was only the third time this season that Dennis gave up as many as four runs in an inning. She threw 34 of her 89 pitches in the opening frame and lasted just 4 1/3 innings. She allowed five runs on nine hits, but only two of those runs were earned and fell to 23-11 this season.
Virginia (44-21) had its best chance to score in the fourth inning. Ruby Rojas led off the inning with a single followed by walks to Dennis and Hannah Owings. Walsh got out of the jam by striking out two around a force play at the plate. The Cavaliers loaded the bases again in the fifth with two outs, but Owings drive to the warning track in right was snagged by Rosie Gustavson.
Live statistics and recaps of all the games of the 2002 ACC Softball Championship are available at theACC.com.
